Introduction to AI Search
The world of search engines is undergoing a significant transformation, thanks to the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to recent data from Similarweb, ChatGPT is leading the AI search race with an impressive 80.1% market share. This dominance has been consistent over the last six months, despite some fluctuations. Meanwhile, traditional search engines are struggling to grow as AI tools continue to reshape the way people find information online.
The Current State of AI Search
The latest numbers show ChatGPT’s market share rebounding to 80.1%, up from 77.6% a month ago. The competition is led by:
- DeepSeek: 6.5% (down from 7.6% last month)
- Google’s AI tools: 5.6% (up slightly from 5.5% last month)
- Perplexity: 1.5% (down from 1.9% last month)
- Grok: 2.6% (down from 3.2% last month)
These numbers are part of Similarweb’s comprehensive "AI Global" report, which provides insight into the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The Decline of Traditional Search Engines
The most significant finding from the report is that traditional search engines are not growing. In fact, they are experiencing a decline in usage:
- Google: -2% year-over-year
- Bing: -18% year-over-year (a substantial drop from +18% in January)
- Yahoo: -11% year-over-year
- DuckDuckGo: -6% year-over-year
- Baidu: -12% year-over-year
Traditional search engines are showing a steady decline of -1% to -2% compared to last year. However, it’s worth noting that Google still has a massive user base, with seven times the users of ChatGPT.
Growing AI Categories
While AI is changing the search landscape, some categories are growing faster than others:
- DevOps & Code Completion: +103% (over 12 weeks)
- General AI tools: +34%
- Music Generation: +12%
- Voice Generation: +8%
On the other hand, some AI areas are shrinking, including Writing and Content Generation (-12%), Customer Support (-11%), and Legal AI (-70%).
The Broader Impact of AI
The effects of AI go beyond just search engines. Other digital sectors facing significant changes include:
- EdTech: -28% year-over-year (with Chegg down 66% and CourseHero down 69%)
- Website Builders: -13% year-over-year
- Freelance Platforms: -19% year-over-year
However, design platforms are still growing at +10% year-over-year, suggesting that AI might be complementing rather than replacing these services.
Conclusion
The rise of AI search engines is transforming the way we find information online. Traditional SEO is still important, but it’s no longer enough. As traditional search traffic drops, it’s essential to adapt to AI-driven search while maintaining practices that work in traditional search. By embracing this balanced approach, individuals and businesses can thrive in a world where AI is increasingly dominant. The key to success in 2025 and beyond lies in understanding and leveraging the power of AI search.